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"Simple Needs"

Yvonne Elliman
Trumpet

Call her an "oldies act" no longer! Elliman steps out with an EP of original music certain to delight longtime fans. It could also easily jump-start her career as a recording artist.

Three of the songs evoke memories of her work with Eric Clapton, during the time between her solo hit singles "I Don't Know How to Love Him" and "If I Can't Have You." Her voice is appealing, and the interplay between the guitars, organ and percussion has that same soulful, warm and funky feel. Elliman's lyrics neatly blend personal, romantic imagery with social commentary and hopes for a better world.

The last song, "Queen of Clean," appears to be archival material recorded as a solo project while she was still living in California. It's apparently a tribute to her mother and also displays her sense of humor.

www.yvonneelliman.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Slippery Slide" "Simple Needs" "Queen Of Clean" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"Hip Hop 4 Dummy's Mixtape"

Sean Jay
Theme Muzik

Expatriate hip-hopper Sean Jay continues to be an effective exponent of high-quality music with the release of this expansive 33-track CD "Mixtape." It's a fine calling card for Jay that comes with the invitation to "burn copies and pass 'em on!!!"

Even though this is free music, the tracks and performances are as tight as much of the big name hip-hop that currently gets radio play here. Jay and his guests hold forth on the standard topics, i.e. their unsurpassed skill on the mic, their success with women, their material possessions. But he also drops references to island locales and celebrities such as Jasmine Trias and Sam Choy.

The "Hip Hop 4 Dummy's" (sic) concept is clever. With Jay giving it away at his Web site at seanjay.com, it's the best legal deal of the year.

www.seanjay.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "Intro" "On Fire" "Dude" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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"My Lord My Life"

Danny Gans
Westside Music Hawaii

Danny Gans and Maui-based singer-songwriter Johnson Enos introduce themselves as a Christian songwriting team with this CD single for a Las Vegas-based label. The lyrics present a straightforward, inspirational message of faith in compelling terms. Gans' powerful and heartfelt performance is reinforced by an expansive orchestral arrangement that builds to a stirring crescendo, than fades away to allow his voice to caress the lyrics as he delivers the message a final time -- "I will give him the glory/My lord/My life." The impact of the song grows with repeated plays.

Westside Music Hawaii has released this single in two versions -- the original, full-length version runs just under five minutes and the "radio edit" about 90 seconds less. Either would be perfect for play on contemporary Christian radio stations nationwide.

www.dannygans.com

Mpeg Audio Clips: "My Lord My Life" Quicktime | RealPlayer | MPEG-3 info

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